1992 Honda Prelude: problems, recalls and reliability
5 recalls and 22 owner complaints on record; most reports concern air bags; the 1993 and 1994 model years look more trouble-free.
Data updated weekly · latest recall Aug 2008
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 22 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“I have a recently acquired 1992 honda prelude with toyo tires on it. The car is not being driven and except for two trips to mvd to get it registered it remains parked in my driveway. Three weeks ago the right rear tire apparently explode and the treads were separated from the tire casing. Two days ago I heard an explosion and found that the tire had exploded and was completely flat. This is the first time I have ever heard of a tire failing when the car was parked. That could have been the cause of quite an accident at 65 mph on a crowded expressway. Is anyone interested or shall I wait for the other three to explode? I have no intention of driving the car with these tires. *tr”Owner report · Tires · Jul 2010
“1992 honda prelude, left front tire went flat causing vehicle to spin out and striking the center divider wall and coming to rest on the inside berm. *bf (ohio traaffic crash report # 10-0284-90). *jb”Owner report · Tires · May 2010
“While driving 65mph the vehicle started making a loud popping noise. I was able to pull over and had the vehicle towed to a dealership, there it was diagnosed a failed transmission. *tr”Owner report · Power Train · May 2008
Show 7 more owner reports
“My ignition switch just started not to long ago to fail on me. Started having problems like a week ago noticing my dashboard lights flickering. I checked my fuses and they were all ok. Two days later my car turned on and turned off when I went to start it. Tried to start it again and kept running. For five days everything was okay but just noticed that my lights were still kind of flickering (dash). Two days ago it didn't want to stay on. In the second position of my ignition, my dashboard lights that will normally come on didn't and when I started the car it would start fine but wouldn't stay one in the second position of the ignition. *jb”Owner report · Electrical System · Dec 2006
“Vehicle was parked outiside of consumer's home, and he noticed that there was oil leaking from underneath vehicle. Dealership is aware of problem.*ak”Owner report · Engine And Engine Cooling · Jun 2002
“This car is completely totaled! It is smashed all in the front, the back is in the front seat and down to the ground...and the driver side is caved in also, and this airbag could have prevented the head injury, and bruising down by the steering wheel. But the airbag failed !!!!*ak”Owner report · Air Bags · Feb 2001
“While attempting to park vehicle lower portion of vehicle hit the curb gently, causing driver's side airbag to deploy. There were no prior warning to airbag's deploytion. No injuries were sustained. *ak”Owner report · Air Bags · Nov 2000
“Was driving approximately 30mph when engine check light came on. Then, vehicle suddenly stopped. Vehicle towed to dealer. Service mechanic indicated that distributor had failed & bearings were melted. This is what caused vehicle to stop. *ak”Owner report · Unknown Or Other · Jun 2000
“When shifting car into park gear shift will get stuck. Consumer feels this is unsafe because car has to stay in neutral because it won't go into park. Consumer has kids that play, and one time the car started to roll on its own. *ak *ml”Owner report · Power Train · Apr 1999
“While driving the vehicle approximately 30-35 mph, hit a pothole in the street, and both driver's and passenger's airbags deployed. Dealer cannot duplicate the problem. *ak”Owner report · Air Bags · Aug 1998
When filing, owners marked a crash in 7 of these complaints and injuries in 3 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 5 campaigns
CERTAIN CK MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION HEADLIGHTS, CLEAR CORNER, BUMPER, AND SIDE MARKER LIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
Remedy: CK MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE NONCOMPLIANT LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CK MOTORSPORT AT 1-909-610-7211.
CERTAIN POLI-AUTO COMBINATION HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES, P/NOS. 11-728, 11-728D, 11-710, 11-419, 11-713, 11-703, 11-704, 11-708P, 11-735, 11-725, 11-726, 11-716 (P&C), 11-721-1, 11-733, 11-729, 11-730, AND 11-732, SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."
Remedy: POLI-AUTO WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE HEADLAMPS AT ITS ORIGINAL PURCHASE PRICE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING APRIL 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT POLI-AUTO AT 305-477-1356.
CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
Remedy: PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.
CERTAIN AAI MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION LAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LIST PASSENGER VEHICLES. COMBINATION LAMPS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."
Remedy: AAI MOTORSPORTS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AAI MOTORSPORTS AT 909-923-9188.
K2 MOTOR IS RECALLING 1,921 AFTERMARKET HEADLAMPS OF VARIOUS MODELS SOLD FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS ARE MISSING THE AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTOR WHICH FAILS TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."
Remedy: K2 MOTOR WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMEBER 17, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT K2 MOTOR AT 1-909-839-2992.
Specifications
Factory options offered for the 1992 model year, decoded from the NHTSA vPIC database. Individual vehicles have one of each.
How other years compare
Check your exact Prelude by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 1992 Honda Prelude reliable?
NHTSA has 22 owner complaints and 5 recall campaigns on record for the 1992 Honda Prelude. The most complained-about area is air bags.
Does the 1992 Honda Prelude have open recalls?
5 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning exterior lighting. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.